Modular joist brace bracket

ABSTRACT

An apparatus for supporting brace members between a plurality of adjacent parallel spaced apart joists wherein each of the joists extends between top and bottom edges comprises a joist engaging cup adapted to receive one of the top or bottom edge of the joist therein and a brace supporting platform angularly extending from each side of the cup in a direction towards the other of the top or bottom edge of the joist. A plurality of brace members may be sized to be received on the brace supporting platforms and extend diagonally between a top and bottom edges of adjacent joists.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

1. Field of Invention

The present invention relates generally to structural reinforcement andin particular to an apparatus and system for modularly supporting aplurality of joists.

2. Description of Related Art

In the field of construction, it is often desirable to make a structureas strong as possible. The strength of a building is desirable for thepurposes of load bearing ability as well as resistance to outside loadssuch as earthquakes, wind and other environmental loading.

Building construction typically includes a plurality of elongate membersconnected each other to form walls, ceilings, floor and the like. In thecase of walls, such elongate wall members are often referred to as studswhile in ceilings and roofs, they may be referred to as joist.

One difficulty that exists is the tendency of relatively long structuralmembers to loose strength and rigidity as their length increases. Thisis often required for floor and ceiling joists so as to provide largerrooms unobstructed by supporting walls and columns. Such long joists maycommonly be subject to torsional buckling failure. Another difficultythat exists with floor joists is when they are exposed to dynamicenvironmental loads such as earthquakes, strong winds and the like.Under such loads, the floor joists may rotate axially along their lengthso as to lay flat instead of upright. The resulting horizontal andvertical deflection of the entire load above such a floor may contributeto an entire building failing or collapsing.

Conventional methods of reinforcing structural members has not beenadequate to resolve the above difficulties. Previous attempts have triedto locate bridges or blocks between adjacent joists to distribute pointloads located near a single joist to adjacent joists so as to distributethe load between more than one joist. Bridging involves locating a pairof crossed diagonal wooden members between adjacent joist whereasblocking typically includes locating a shortened length of the joistmember transversely between the joists. Such attempts have notadequately solved the above difficulties.

In particular, blocking or bridging is only able to act as a compressivemember between the joists and will have a very limited ability toprevent the edges of the joists from moving away from each other.

When the joist members are subjected to torsional loading, the blockingmembers on one side of the joist are subjected to opposite loads. Forexample, when a torsional load is applied to the joist along thelongitudinal axis of the structural member, the blocking member abuttingone side of the top chord of the joist is subjected to a primarilycompressive load, and the blocking member abutting opposite side of thetop chord is subject to a tensile load. Similarly, for the sametorsional load, the bottom chord on the same side of that joist willalso be subjected to a tensile load. The compressive load may beconveyed efficiently to the blocking member abutting the top chordthrough the contacting surfaces of the blocking and the joist chord.However the tensile load on both blocking member on the opposite side ofthe top chord and on the bottom blocking member is born entirely by thefastening device used. Therefore unless such fasteners are specificallydesigned to bear tensile loads under repeated loading cycles, this islikely to lead to cause premature failure of the structure when suchfasteners, such as a nail or a screw pulls out. Due to the inability ofbridging and blocking to effectively handle loads in tension, suchreinforcing will not significantly assist in the reinforcing of astructure under cyclical environmental loads such as earthquakes, windsand the like.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

According to a first embodiment of the present invention there isdisclosed an apparatus for supporting brace members between a pluralityof adjacent parallel spaced apart joists wherein each of the joistsextends between top and bottom edges. The apparatus comprises a joistengaging member adapted to engage the joist proximate to a top or bottomedge thereof and a brace supporting platform angularly extending fromeach side of the cup in a direction towards the other of the top orbottom edge of the joist.

The joist engaging member may comprise a cup adapted to receive one ofthe top or bottom edge of the joist therein. The cup may comprise a baseplate and at least one joist engaging side plate extending from the baseplate, wherein the base plate and the at least one side plates arepositioned to receive one of the top or bottom edge of the joisttherein. The side plates may include fastener bores extendingtherethrough. The base plate includes fastener bores extendingtherethrough. The base plate may extend substantially a lengthcorresponding substantially to the length of the joist.

The brace supporting platform may comprise a substantially planar memberextending from the cup. The brace supporting platform may includefastener bores extending therethrough. The brace supporting platform mayhave a width between first and second side edges correspondingsubstantially to a width of the brace member.

The brace supporting platform may further include side walls extendingfrom the first and second side edges. The side walls may includefastener bores extending therethrough. The base cup and the bracesupporting platform may be formed of a unitary sheet of material.

The apparatus may further comprise at least one hanger member extendingfrom the joist engaging cup, the hanger member having fastener boretherethrough for passing fasteners so as to suspend the apparatus from abeam.

According to a further embodiment of the present invention there isdisclosed a system for supporting a plurality of adjacent parallelspaced apart joists, each of the joists extending between top and bottomedges. The system comprises a plurality of brackets comprising a joistengaging cup adapted to receive one of the top or bottom edge of thejoist therein and a brace supporting platform angularly extending fromeach side of the cup in a direction towards the other of the top orbottom edge of the joist. The system further comprises a plurality ofbrace members sized to be received on the brace supporting platforms andextend diagonally between a top and bottom edges of adjacent joists.

The cup may comprises a base plate and at least one joist engaging sideplate extending from the base plate, wherein the base plate and the atleast side plate are positioned to receive one of the top or bottom edgeof the joist therein.

Other aspects and features of the present invention will become apparentto those ordinarily skilled in the art upon review of the followingdescription of specific embodiments of the invention in conjunction withthe accompanying figures.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

In drawings which illustrate embodiments of the invention whereinsimilar characters of reference denote corresponding parts in each view,

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a system for supporting a plurality ofparallel spaced apart joists according to a first embodiment of thepresent invention.

FIG. 2 is a perspective view of an apparatus for supporting bracesbetween the joists of the system of FIG. 1 according to a furtherembodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 3 is a side view of the system of FIG. 1 being installed on aplurality of joists at a first step.

FIG. 4 is a side view of the system of FIG. 1 being installed on aplurality of joists at a second step.

FIG. 5 is a side view of the system of FIG. 1 being installed on aplurality of joists at a third step.

FIG. 6 is a plan view of a cut sheet for forming the apparatus of FIG.2.

FIG. 7 is a perspective view of an apparatus for supporting bracesbetween the joists of the system of FIG. 1 according to a furtherembodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 8 is a perspective view of an apparatus for supporting bracesbetween the joists of the system of FIG. 1 according to a furtherembodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 9 is a perspective view of an apparatus for supporting bracesbetween the joists of the system of FIG. 1 according to a furtherembodiment of the present invention.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

Referring to FIG. 1, a system for supporting a plurality of parallelspaced apart joists 10 according to a first embodiment of the inventionis shown generally at 20. Each joist 10 comprises an elongate memberextending between first and second ends, 12 and 14, respectively havingtop and bottom edges 16 and 18, respectively. It will be appreciatedthat although the present system is described for use with a joist,other structural members, such as, by way of non-limiting example,beams, trusses or the like may also be supported in a similar manner asdescribed herein. As described herein, the joist 10 may comprise a flooror ceiling joist, such as by way of non-limiting example dimensionedlumber, space frame or I-joists formed of wood, composite materials,metal or the like.

As illustrated in FIG. 1, the system 20 comprises a plurality of bracebrackets 22 located on the top and bottom edges 16 and 18 of the joists10 and a plurality brace members 60 extending diagonally therebetween.As will be more fully described below, the brace brackets 22 and thebrace members 60 extending therebetween serve to operably couple the topof one joist with the bottom of the two adjacent joists and vice versa.In such a manner it will be appreciated that any load applied to onejoist will be distributed to the adjacent joists so as to more evenlydistribute such loads along the floor structure. It will also beappreciated that vibrations and movements applied to one joist will besimilarly distributed across the entire floor. Additionally, each joistswill be more fully braced to resists torsional or twisting forcedapplied to each joist by the brace members both tensionally andcompressively resisting such twisting movements.

With reference to FIG. 2, each brace bracket comprises an elongateplanar base member 24 extending between first and second ends, 26 and28, respectively and first and second sides, 30 and 32, respectivelyforming a cup for receiving one of the top or bottom edges 16 or 18 ofthe joist 10 therein. The base member 24 includes a pair of bracesupporting platforms 40 extending from the first and second sides 26 and28 thereof as will be more fully described below. The brace bracket 22includes at least one side plate 34 extending from each of the first andsecond sides 30 and 32. As illustrated in FIG. 2, the brace supportingplatforms 40 may extend from substantially a midpoint between the firstand second side 30 and 32 wherein the brace bracket 22 includes a sideplate located to each side of the brace supporting platform 40. Asillustrated in FIG. 2, each of the side plates 34 may include one ormore fastener apertures 36 extending therethrough. The fastenerapertures 36 are sized to receive a fastener, such as, by way ofnon-limiting example, a nail, screw or the like therethrough to fastenthe side plates 34 to the joist. As illustrated in FIG. 2, the fastenerapertures 36 may comprise slots, although it will be appreciated thatother opening shapes, such as, by way of non-limiting example, circularbores or a plurality of bores may also be utilized. As illustrated inFIG. 2, the base member 24 may also include fastener apertures 36extending therethrough. Optionally, the side plates 34 may includebarbs, spikes or other suitable projections from an interior surfacethereof so as to engage the joist when the brace bracket 22 is securedthereto. Adhesives may also be applied between the base member 24 andside plates 34 and the joist to secure the brace bracket 22 to thejoist. The brace bracket 22 will have a length between the first andsecond ends 26 and 28 to provide for sufficient strength to engage thejoist 10 and retain the brace members 60 in sufficient engagement toprovide increased strength to the joists. By way of non-limitingexample, it has been found that a length of at least 4 inches (102 mm)has been adequate.

The side plates 34 are spaced apart by a distance to correspond to thetop or bottom edge 16 or 18 of the joist 10. In many applications, thestructural member 6 will comprise a floor or ceiling joist, such as byway of non-limiting example dimensioned lumber, space frame or I-joistsformed of wood, metal or the like. Dimensioned lumber is commonly of a1.5 inch width and therefore for such applications the side plates 34will be spaced apart by a similar distance. It will be appreciated thatother thicknesses of structural members in general and joists inparticular may also be utilized, such as, by way of non-limitingexample, sized to accommodate a doubled up floor joist, a 2½ inch widefloor joist or other common wood or metal floor joist sizes. In someapplications, the side plates 34 and 56 may be spaced apart by adistance slightly larger than the width of the joist so as to facilitateinstallation. In particular, the side plates 34 may be spaced apart by adistance of up to 3.2 mm (⅛ of an inch) larger than the joist for whichthey are designed.

The brace supporting platforms 40 comprise substantially planar angledplates 42 extending from the base at an angle 48 as illustrated in FIG.3. The angle 48 is selected to align with a brace member 60 extendingbetween the top edge 16 of one joist 10 and the bottom edge 18 of anadjacent joist.

The angled plate 42 includes side plates 44 extending therefrom in thesame direction from the base plate as the angled plate 42 asillustrated. The side plates 44 are substantially parallel to each otherand are spaced apart by a distance corresponding to the width of thebrace member 60. As illustrated, each of the angled plate 42 and theside plates 44 may include fastener apertures 46 extending therethroughwhich may comprise slots, circular bores or a plurality of bores as setout above. In such a manner, it will be observed that the bracesupporting platform 40 is sized and shaped to receive and retain a bracemember 60 therein. By way of non-limiting example, the side plates 44may be substantially rectangular as illustrated in FIGS. 1, 2 and 6 ortriangular as illustrated in FIGS. 3-5, 7 and 8 although it will beappreciated that other shapes may be utilized as well.

The braces members 60 may be formed of any suitable elongate rigidmaterial, such as, by way of non-limiting example, wood, metal, plasticor composite materials. In particular, it has been found useful to formthe brace members 60 of dimension lumber such as, by way of non-limitingexample, 2×2, 2×3s or the like. In such a manner, the brace members 60may be cut to the desired length to extend between the top and bottomedges 16 and 18 of adjacent joists 10 as will be more fully describedbelow. As illustrated, each brace member 60 may be separate althoughconnected to the brace brackets 22 in matching crossed pairs.Alternatively, the pairs of brace members 60 may be secured to eachother in a cross before installation.

Turning now to FIGS. 3 through 5, in operation, one brace bracket 22 maybe located on each top edge 16 of a plurality of adjacent joists 10 a,10 b and 10 c by lowing the brace bracket 22 in a direction generallyindicated at 50 so as to rest the base member 24 upon the top edge 16with the side plates 34 located to each side of the joist. Oncepositioned, fasteners (not shown) may be passed through the fastenerapertures of the brace bracket 22 to secure it to the joist. Thereafter,a pair of brace members 60 may be raised in a direction generallyindicated at 52 into engagement into each of the brace supportingplatforms 40 on the top edges 16 of the joists 10 so as to extendbetween the top edge 16 of one joist and the bottom edge 18 of anadjacent joist as illustrated in FIG. 4. Fasteners may then be passedthrough the fastener apertures 46 to secure the brace member 60 therein.Finally, a bottom brace bracket 22 may be positioned onto each bottomedge 18 of the joists 10 a, 10 b and 10 c by raising the brace bracket22 in a direction generally indicated at 54 so as to receive the bottomedge 18 of the joist 10 upon the base member 24 with the side plates 34located to each side of the joist. Once positioned, fasteners (notshown) may be passed through the fastener apertures of the brace bracket22 to secure it to the joist.

The brace brackets 22 may be cut from a single sheet of metal, such as,by way of non-limiting example, steel, stainless steel, aluminium orgalvanized steel. The sheet metal may be cut into a blank 70 asillustrated in FIG. 6 according to known methods and thereafter bendinto the desired shape as illustrated and described above. Inparticular, the blank 70 may be cut along cut lines 74 to separate theside plates 44 and 34 from each other and thereafter bent along bendlines 72 to form the brace bracket 22 as set out above. Any thickness ofmetal as required to provide the necessary strength may be utilized suchas between 12 and 22 gauge. In particular, it has been found that sheetmetal of between 16 and 20 gauge has been useful. It will also beappreciated that the brace bracket 22 may also be formed of non-metalmaterials, such as, by way of non-limiting example, carbon fibre,fibreglass, plastics, ceramics and composite materials.

Although the above system is described as having a single pair of bracesupport platforms 40 extending from each brace bracket 22, each bracebracket 22 may also include more than one set of brace support platformsas illustrated in FIG. 7. In such embodiments, the brace supportplatforms 40 will be spaced along the brace bracket 22 to support thejoists 10 at different locations therealong as desired by a user. Insuch embodiments, the brace bracket 22 may extend substantially thelength of the joists 10 so as to provide continuous contact therewith.

Turning now to FIG. 8, an alternative embodiment of the presentinvention is illustrated in which the brace brackets 22 include hangerplates 80 extending from one of the first or second ends 26 or 28(illustrated as extending from the second end in FIG. 8). The hangerplates 80 extend in the same direction away from the base member 24 asthe side plates 34 in a generally perpendicular direction. Asillustrated in FIG. 8, the hanger plates may be supported from the sideplates 34 at the second end 28 of the brace bracket 22. Optionally, thehanger plates 80 may extend from extension tabs 86 extending upwardlyfrom the side plates 34. The hanger plates 80 comprise substantiallyplanar members having a plurality of fastener bores 84 extendingtherethrough for passing a fastener to secure the hanger plates 80 andthereby the brace bracket 22 to a beam or the like at an end of thejoist 10. In such a manner, it will be appreciated that the bracebracket 22 may be utilized to support the joist 10 therefrom similar toa joist hanger. As illustrated in FIG. 8, the hanger plates 80 mayinclude bent over top portions 82 adapted to be located on top of thebeam (not shown). The hanger plates 80 may extend any distance up thebeam as desired by a user including, but not limited to, the full heightof the beam. Additionally, although the hanger plates 80 are illustratedas extending to opposed sides of the side plates 34, it will beappreciated that they may also extend towards each other from the sideplates 34.

With reference to FIG. 9, an alternative embodiment of the presentinvention is illustrated in which the base member is omitted leaving apair of side plates 102 and 104 spaced apart by a distance 106 and eachhaving a brace supporting platform 40 extending therefrom. Asillustrated in FIG. 9, the brace supporting platform 40 may extend fromthe side plates 102 or 104 at a distances spaced apart from the top edgeof the side plates. It will also be appreciated that this feature may beincluded in the embodiments illustrated above as well. The embodimentillustrated in FIG. 9 will be useful where it is undesirable orimpractical to locate the base member over the top of a truss, such as,by way of non-limiting example, for retrofitting of an existing joistinstallation.

While specific embodiments of the invention have been described andillustrated, such embodiments should be considered illustrative of theinvention only and not as limiting the invention as construed inaccordance with the accompanying claims.

1. An apparatus for supporting brace members between a plurality ofadjacent parallel spaced apart joists, each of said joists extendingbetween top and bottom edges, the apparatus comprising: a base member;first and second side walls extending from said base member, adapted toreceive a top or bottom edge of said joist therebetween of so as toengage said base member; and a brace supporting platform angularlyextending from each side of said base member in a direction towards theother of said top or bottom edge of said joist, wherein said first andsecond side walls and said base member are adapted to extend along saidjoist to each side of said brace supporting platform.
 2. (canceled) 3.(canceled)
 4. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein said side plates includefastener bores extending therethrough.
 5. The apparatus of claim 1wherein said base plate includes fastener bores extending therethrough.6. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein said base plate extendssubstantially a length corresponding substantially to the length of saidjoist.
 7. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein said brace supportingplatform comprises a substantially planar member extending from saidbase member.
 8. The apparatus of claim 7 wherein said brace supportingplatform includes fastener bores extending therethrough.
 9. Theapparatus of claim 7 wherein said brace supporting platform has a widthbetween first and second side edges corresponding substantially to awidth of said brace member.
 10. The apparatus of claim 9 wherein saidbrace supporting platform further includes side walls extending fromsaid first and second side edges.
 11. The apparatus of claim 10 whereinsaid side walls includes fastener bores extending therethrough.
 12. Theapparatus of claim 1 wherein said base base member and said bracesupporting platform are formed of a unitary sheet of material.
 13. Theapparatus of claim 1 further comprising at least one hanger memberextending from said base member, said hanger member having fastener boretherethrough for passing fasteners so as to suspend said apparatus froma beam.
 14. A system for supporting a plurality of adjacent parallelspaced apart joists, each of said joists extending between top andbottom edges, the system comprising: a plurality of brackets comprising:a base member; first and second side walls extending from said basemember, adapted to receive a to or bottom edge of said joisttherebetween of so as to engage said base member; and a brace supportingplatform angularly extending from each side of said base member in adirection towards the other of said top or bottom edge of said joist,wherein said first and second side walls and said base member areadapted to extend along said joist to each side of said brace supportingplatform; and a plurality of brace members sized to be received on saidbrace supporting platforms and extend diagonally between a top andbottom edges of adjacent joists.
 15. (canceled)